Vol. 260 No. 12
asked the Minister for Lands the average time which elapses between the date when the purchase is fixed in the case of compulsory acquisition by the Land Commission and the date upon which the land bonds representing the price are actually transferred to the person entitled to receive them.
49.
asked the Minister for Lands the average time which elapses between the date when the purchase is fixed in the case of voluntary sale of land to the Land Commission and the date upon which the land bonds representing the price are actually transferred to the person entitled to receive them.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
The average time-lag, during the six-month period ended the 30th April, 1972, between the date of vesting of an estate in the Land Commission and the date of allocation of the land bonds representing the purchase money was 14 months in compulsory acquisition cases and nine and a half months in voluntary purchase cases.
I hasten to add, however, that where there is no delay by the solicitor in lodging documents, and the owner's title is in order, the time-lag is very much less and can be as short as two months.
Would the Minister not agree that 14 months is rather a long time in this matter? In fairness to the Minister he has had the period reduced from two years but, as he is aware, 14 months is still too long because bonds can fall by as much as 10 or 15 per cent in a particular year.
Can the Minister say if the same average will apply to land acquired by the Forestry Division of his Department?
I should think not. Offhand, I would say it would be considerably less.
Much less.
The amount of money involved would be much less also.
Yes, but as Deputy L'Estrange has pointed out, the time-lag has been reduced considerably and I am satisfied that in so far as the solicitors' section is concerned, the remaining delay is not due to factors within their control.
